We're sisters...sisters who read romance books...paranormal, erotica, contemporary, action, suspense, young adult, M/M. The steamier the better, we say. Pretty sure one of our e-readers will overheat at some point - either from overuse or content. Here are our reviews and musings...

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Friday, May 27, 2016

Sela Halstead lost her innocence in a way that no sixteen-year-old should ever have to endure. She’s spent years trying to forget that night even while wondering about the identities of the monsters who brutalized her—until a telltale tattoo flashes across Sela’s TV screen. The incriminating ink belongs to Jonathon Townsend, the millionaire founder of The Sugar Bowl, a website that matches rich older men with impressionable young women. Obsessed with revenge, Sela infiltrates Townsend’s world, only to come face-to-face with a tantalizing complication: Beckett North, his charismatic business partner.The tech mastermind behind The Sugar Bowl, Beck always gets what he wants, in business and in bed. And yet, for a man who’s done every dirty thing imaginable, there’s something about the naïve, fresh-faced Sela that sparks his hottest fantasies. Because with her, it’s not just about sex. Beck opens up to her in ways he never has with other girls. So why does he get the feeling that she’s hiding something? In a world of pleasure and power, the shocking truth could turn them against each other—or bind them forever.Note: Sugar Daddy ends on a cliffhanger. Sela and Beck’s story continues in Sugar Rush and Sugar Free!Goodreads Link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25573737-sugar-daddyPurchase Sugar Daddy:Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Rb6cft B&N: http://bit.ly/1SSoRj4 iBooks: http://apple.co/1RevoHk Google Play: http://bit.ly/1M7yRzz Kobo: http://bit.ly/222C52PPre-Order the remaining Sugar Bowl books now!Sugar Rush (releasing 8/2/16):Amazon: http://amzn.to/1WFjBo2 B&N: http://bit.ly/1RkH9vQ iBooks: http://apple.co/1QpjxG2 Google Play: http://bit.ly/1O5wYuy Kobo: http://bit.ly/1P3Ai6sSugar Free (releasing 10/11/16):Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Rb6Auc B&N: http://bit.ly/1TuReY5 iBooks: http://apple.co/1XD5spa Google Play: http://bit.ly/213kRVe Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Qr1uKn

How does a prolific author like Sawyer Bennett top her other popular books? Well, she writes a mystery/suspense romance, of course. I have loved most of Sawyer Bennett's books, but this is the book/series I've been waiting for. The emotional reach in this book is deep. Sela has been through a horrific trauma that still resonates with her. She still struggles to overcome the emotional scars and make a decision to get her revenge. Sela's rage reverberates throughout the story. With determination and bravado, she seeks justice against those that changed the course of her life. Sela evolves throughout the story. When we first meet her, she is reticent, introverted, and numb to the world. She is not really living. Once she makes a decision to get her revenge, she comes alive. I'm not a particular fan of revenge stories, mostly because the cost to the one seeking retribution is often very high. But I did admire how Sela takes control over her own life. In the midst of this revenge plot, Sela meets Beckett North, the business partner of her target. She plans to use him to get closer to Jonathon Townsend. What she does not plan is to fall in love with him. I do not blame her. Jonathon has an openness and a vulnerability that is very appealing. He seems to have a noble nature and is conflicted about his relationship with his business partner. He knows that Jonathan has a dark side, but he mostly ignores his concerns in favor of loyalty to a childhood friend. There are twists and turns in this story that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Despite the dark nature of the circumstances, the relationship between Sela and Beckett is a pure delight. Yes, it does end in a cliffhanger, but I considering the next book is out at the beginning of August, this is more like a serial with a long break in between. IN A NUTSHELL:Perfect. This book is just perfect. I'm not a fan of cliffhanger, but this story is worth it!For more discussion on Sugar Daddy, join me for a book chat on Scandalicious Book Reviews

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.A reformed trial
lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.Sawyer likes her Bloody Mary’s strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.Connect with Sawyer:Facebook | Twitter |Instagram | GoodreadsSign up for Sawyer’s newsletter:http://sawyerbennett.com/signup/

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

BLURB“This book devastated me in the most wonderful way,” raves Meredith Wild. In Sugar Daddy, the New York Times bestselling author of the Cold Fury series proves that vengeance is sweet—but seduction is to die for.

Sela Halstead lost her innocence in a way that no sixteen-year-old should ever have to endure. She’s spent years trying to forget that night even while wondering about the identities of the monsters who brutalized her—until a telltale tattoo flashes across Sela’s TV screen. The incriminating ink belongs to Jonathon Townsend, the millionaire founder of The Sugar Bowl, a website that matches rich older men with impressionable young women. Obsessed with revenge, Sela infiltrates Townsend’s world, only to come face-to-face with a tantalizing complication: Beckett North, his charismatic business partner.

The tech mastermind behind The Sugar Bowl, Beck always gets what he wants, in business and in bed. And yet, for a man who’s done every dirty thing imaginable, there’s something about the naïve, fresh-faced Sela that sparks his hottest fantasies. Because with her, it’s not just about sex. Beck opens up to her in ways he never has with other girls. So why does he get the feeling that she’s hiding something? In a world of pleasure and power, the shocking truth could turn them against each other—or bind them forever.

Note: Sugar Daddy ends on a cliffhanger. Sela and Beck’s story continues in Sugar Rush and Sugar Free!

New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett is a snarky Southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company that lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Bennett would like to report that she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.AUTHOR LINKS: WEBSITE |FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

The Devil's Doorbellby Anne Calhoun, Megan Hart, Christine d'Abo, Jeffe Kennedy, Megan Mulry, Delphine Dryden, and M. O'Keefe ABOUT THE BOOK:A woman's pleasure is a dangerous thing. A primal appetite that, once awakened, can never be sated. A secret that gives power to those who know it. A magic that, once unleashed, can never be contained.Some say the clitoris is the devil's doorbell, set to summon him forth at the merest touch...It's time to ring the bell.Here are seven tales of sexual empowerment and erotic defiance, featuring the hottest storytellers of erotic fiction.In the Garden by Anne CalhounExact Warm Unholy by Jeffe KennedyRed Leather by Delphine DrydenDrowning on Dry Land by Megan HartDevil in the Dark by Christine d'AboLondon Calling by Megan MulryWe Are All Found Things by Molly O'Keefe (writing as M. O'Keefe)

Take a little walk on the wild side and enjoy the empowerment and freedom of exploring The Devil's Doorbell. With stories from some of my favorite erotica authors, the writing in this anthology is lush, appealing to the senses, and poignant. The characters are vulnerable and yet, by choosing to come out of their shells, they are empowered. I'm especially moved by Jeffe Kennedy's "Exact Warm Unholy" story. It's about a woman whose tries on various identities as she struggles to find out why her marriage didn't work. She is trying to find her own skin and engages in sometimes risky behavior. Admittedly, I worried for her at times. She soon discovers that the identity that best suits her is her own. The other stand out story to me is M. O'Keefe's, "We are All Found Things." No one writes vulnerability like M. O'Keefe. Luka Samuelson has the innocence of a little boy and the body of a bad ass. Because he is raised "off the grid", he is a little awkward in social situations. Having survived a very public trauma, Luka is especially introverted. Rennie Hernandez is a sculpture who is used to closed people and spaces. It takes a long time for this couple to overcome their obstacles, but it is a sweet union. The anthology format is perfect for this series. It is easy to pick up this book and savor one story at a time for a little afternoon delight. Thank you to the authors for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Bright Blaze of Magicby Jennifer EstepBook 3 in the Black Blade trilogyABOUT THE BOOK:Bad Things Always Come In Threes…As a thief, I'm good at three things: hiding in the shadows, getting in and out unseen, and uncovering secrets. I put these skills to work for the Sinclair Family, one of the magical mobs that run the tourist town of Cloudburst Falls. Everyone knows Victor Draconi wants to take over all the other Families--and kill every last Sinclair. What they don't know is that I'm on to him, and no way will I let the man who murdered my mom get away with hurting all the other people I care about. Especially when I've got places to break into, stuff to steal, and Devon Sinclair fighting right by my side…

Victor Draconi is taunting the ruling families of Cloudburst Falls. He has been collecting magic infused black blades to employ during a takeover of the city. The only family taking a stand is the Sinclair family. Soon there is a old fashioned ambush, must like what you might see in a gangster movie. People are killed, captured and tortured. Lila and Devon escape, along with Felix, and meet up with Deah. They plot to rescue the captives. Tailored for a YA audience, Jennifer Estep brings us all our favorite elements to this story. There is lots of action, tests of loyalty and scary confrontations. <i>Bright Blaze of Magic</i> puts a nice cap on the Black Blade trilogy. The villain is evil. Victor aptly shows his depravity and the depth of his powers. Allies gather together to take him down. Lila and Devon solidify their relationship. My favorite part of the story is the encounter with the loch ness. It speaks to Lila's history. The loch ness has been keeping all the tolls that both Lila and her mother have paid over the years. It acknowledges a mutual respect between monster and Lila. It's a connection between Lila and her mother. It's a small scene but filled with wistfulness and revelations.

I think this is a great series for the YA readers looking for action and adventure, but not in a dystopian world with a dash of romance. <i>Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Thursday, May 5, 2016

ABOUT THE BOOK: He is a trained
professional—but nothing can prepare him for the hottest mission of his life.
Assigned to protect his boss’s daughter, British former SAS operative Malone
Garrett breaks the first rule of covert surveillance—don’t make contact. And
especially don’t take your mark out to dinner, then agree to a rooftop quickie.
But now that Mal has Abby in his arms, he has no intention of ever
letting her go.

Abby Baston told herself it
was a hit and quit, a one-nighter with a hot, handsome stranger whose hands
were trained to take action. Working undercover for the CIA, she can’t risk
anything more. But when an international crisis ignites, Abby must make a call:
trust Mal with her secret—and her heart—and partner up, or lose everything in a
split second . . .

Mal Garrett has a problem. He is assigned to a dull, and utterly boring surveillance post watching his boss's adult daughter as she functions as an aid worker in the Ukraine. Abby Baston is an undercover CIA agent watching the Ukrainian border for any signs of Russian invasion. Her job requires her to keep her CIA status secret, even from her own family. It's not a glamorous assignment - her biggest day of the month is battery-change day, when she has to switch out the batteries on the ground sensors near the border. In a not-a-coincidence move, Mal stages an incident for him to meet Abby and the sparks fly. Before he knows it, he is in the middle of a potential international incident.

What I enjoy about most about Emmy Curtis' Alpha Ops novels is her playful style. The banter between these two seasoned operatives is entertaining. Abby is a veteran agent, having been recruited out of the college, but her role is intelligence gathering. Mal is a gruff former SAS soldier, just cynical enough to go through life with a big wall surrounding his emotions. In other words, they are pretty equally matched in their wits as well as skills. I like the fact that Mal is a bit of a Neanderthal, having not had any real long-lasting relationship in his life, except with his fellow soldier. Although he is attracted to Abby, he holds himself back, until he doesn't. He's world-weary - he reminds me of a GOM - grumpy old man, and that makes him lovable. My biggest critique is that her scenes, especially towards the end, feel like they end just short of completion. They lack the detail she invests through the rest of the book. They feel rushed. For example, the reunion with her dad is rushed. For all the effort her father puts into surveilling her, there isn't much emotion when she finally comes home after a harrowing experience. There are also a few story elements left hanging that seem to go nowhere.

I don't think this book is about trying to attain truly, deep, emotional depth, but it does but is does deliver enough to make you care about the characters. It is action packed, suspenseful, and very entertaining.

Emmy Curtis is an editor and a romance
writer. An ex-pat Brit, she quells her homesickness with Cadbury Flakes and
Fray Bentos pies. She's lived in London, Paris and New York, and has settled
for the time being, in North Carolina. When not writing, Emmy loves to travel
with her military husband and take long walks with their Lab. All things
considered, her life is chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny. And if
you get that reference...well, she already considers you kin.

Five
minutes into her short drive home, she passed another old beater Škoda with its
hood up. She slowed down. It was pointing the opposite way, so it wasn’t like
she could really offer him a ride. She was about to pass it, when she caught
sight of the man, or more specifically, his jacket. It was bright red and
emblazoned with MEDCIN SAND FRONTIERS. She pulled over. She wasn’t going to
strand a fellow aid worker in the countryside at night.

“Ca
va?” she asked.

“Eh.
I’ve been better,” he replied in a deep voice with a distinct English accent.

“And
you’re not French,” she said, slamming her door and striding over to him.

“Not
even a little bit.” He straightened and blew out a sigh as he held his hand out
to her. “Malone Garrett. Thanks for stopping.”

She
shook his hand and looked into the engine. “Anything I can help with?”

He
cocked his head and looked down at her.

A
jolt of awareness flashed through her as he met her eyes. He was all man. Firm
jaw, really blue eyes, way over six feet, and built to match. His jean-clad
legs were long and clearly muscled. She suddenly wanted to see what was under
his jacket and shirt…Her long-dormant libido kick-started in her stomach,
sending unwelcome messages through her body. Jesus, girl. Get a grip.

“Are
you good with cars?” he asked, a hint of a smile behind his words.

I
can hot-wire them, siphon fuel from them, disable them, make them explode, and
change a fan belt. But aside from that, not really.

“I’m
good at giving stranded motorists rides back into town,” she said, as if she
was admitting she knew nothing about cars.

“In
which case, I’d be grateful to take advantage of that skill, if you don’t
mind,” he said, closing the hood. He got back into his car, turned off the
headlights, and grabbed a messenger bag from the backseat.

She
got in her car and watched him in her rearview mirror. His accent did strange
things to her. Maybe it was just speaking to someone who actually spoke English
as a first language. Maybe it was something different. Holy hell. Did God send
him because she’d been determined to meet someone? Or at least touch someone?

He
opened the door and peered in. “Are you sure? I promise I’m not an ax
murderer.” He smiled disarmingly, and for a second she considered that that was
precisely what an ax murderer would say. She shrugged to herself. Anything to
relieve the boredom of her life.

“Sure.
Maybe you should be asking if I’m the ax murderer?”

A
frown flickered across his face for a second and she laughed. “I’m not, I
promise.”

He
got in and put his seat belt on. “Isn’t that exactly what an ax murderer would
say, though?”

She
laughed again. “You’re the one who brought up ax murderers. Maybe I kill with a
spork. Maybe you’re making me feel inferior with all your talk about axes.” She
pulled onto the road and headed toward the flickering lights of the town about
thirteen miles away.

“Then
let’s drop the subject. Although, clearly, axes are superior in that line of
business.”

She
sniffed. “You haven’t seen what I can do with a spork.”

He
laughed, a low belly laugh. “So perhaps I can take you out to dinner, to thank
you for your assistance this evening. That way, I can see firsthand how
proficient you are with cutlery."